Door-operating mechanism



April 2, 1929. F. F. TURNER ET AL 1,707,648

' DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 2, 1929- F. F. TURNER ET AL r 1,707,648

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uurrao STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLOYD I. TURNER AND JOHN A. BRUBAZKER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE.

HAUGHTON ELEVATOR AND MACHINE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORA- TION OF OHIO.

DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed an 2, 1927. Serial No. 203,210.

This invention relates to a device for opening and closing doors or gates which are adaptedfor use on elevator cars,with particular reference to the automatic operation thereofpreferably in conjunction with the 0 eration of the car which is controlled throng the medium of push buttons.

' One of the important objects of the invention is to provide door operating. mechanism having a slow start and stop movement and adapted to be driven by an electric motor from a power line which is cut ofi as soon as the door completes its movement in either direction. In connection with the operation of the door, another improved feature is to provide effective means for preventing accidents or damage to the operating system in case the door becomes stuck, or for some other reasonthe mechanism fails to completeits cycle of operation. I

It is also an object of the invention to provide motor operating mechanism which will normally open and close the door with a slow start and stop movement and whlch is so arranged that the door may nevertheless be opened manually in case the power fails without any danger of accident.

In the present-embodiment of the invention, after the normal cycle of operation, the mechanism comes to rest with the car at the desired floor, the car door open, and the circuits for the door operating motor and the.

main car operating motor both open. When a button is pushed to call the car to another floor, the door operating motor is actuated to close the door or gate and the completion of this operation closes the circuit through the m'ain motor to start the car in the desired direction.

to open the door, and is de-energized as soon as the door is fully opened.

The mechanical connection between the car door or gate and its operating motor is so constructed and arranged that it will yield or fail to take place, for the above or for any As soon as the car reaches the se-. lected landing, the main motor circuit isopened, the door operating motor is actuated Figure 1 is a front elevation of the door operating means as 'used in connection with an elevator car, the door being closed.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the door open.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the action of the release catch when the door becomes stuck during its closing movement,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of the motor driven mechanism for operating the door.

Fig. 5 is an elevation looking from the right of Fig. 4, with parts broken awa Fig. 6 is a section taken on the ine 6--6 of Fig. 5, illustrating thelimit switches which are governed by the door operating mechanism. 1

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an across-the-line diagram illustrating the wiring for operating the elevator and door by alternating current.

- Fig. 9 is a complete wiring diagram of the system illustrated in Fig. 8.

The invention is illustrated in connection with an elevatorcar 10 having a collapsible door or gate 11 of any approved construction suspended on a track 12 by means of rollers 13 carried by the extended upper ends of vertical bars 14. The operation of the door is controlled through the medium of a lever 15 having a roller 16 at its lower end which rides in a slotted guide 17 secured to the middle part of the bar 14 at the edge of the door. The upper end of the lever 15 is pivoted at 18 to an arm 19 having a pivotal connection at 20 to the frame of the car. The pivot 20 is at the center of a frame which. includes a send-circular bar 21, and which has a slotted connection 21 to a rail 22 of the car, so that it may be adjusted to a central position with relation to the door movement. A

In the normal operation of the car door or gate, the arm 19 always remains in vertical position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If the door in closing, however, should meet with some obstruction, as for example, a person standing in the doorway, the upper end ot the arm 19 is adapted to slip on the bar 21 and swing about its pivot 20. One form of slip connection is illustrated in Fig. 7, wherein the upper end of the arm 19 extends laterally over the bar 21 as shown at 23 and carries a housing 24 having a plunger 25 mounted therein. The plunger 25 is normally held at the front end of the housing by a spring 26 mounted in a seat 27 which may be adjusted by means of a screw 28 to maintain the spring at the required tension. The lunger 25 carries a releasable catch 29 whic extends forwardly through the front end of the housing into a recess 30 in the rear face of the bar 21. The tension of the spring 26 is usually adusted so that in case the door becomes stuck the catch 29 will be released before the door operating motor is stalled.

For the normal actuation of the lever 15. a pitman 31 has one end pivoted at 32 to the lever at some distance below the pivot 18. The other end of the pitman 31 is journaled on a crank in 33 carried by a crank 34 se cured to a s aft 35 which is journaled in a gear housing 36 supported in the upper part of the car. The crank pin 33 is mounted for adjustment longitudinally of the crank 34 in a slot 37 so that the extreme throw of the crank will be just sufiicient to complete the opening or the closing movement of the door.

It is also apparent that the releasable catch 29 permits the door to be opened manually, in case the power fails. Under such conditions, whatever he the position of the crank 34 at the moment, if the door be given a sudden jerk, the catch 29 will be released from the recess 30, after which the door may be easily moved manually, as the lever 15 swings about the pivot 32.

In the installation herein shown, the ower for'operating the door is furnished y an alternating current inductionmotor 38, although it is possible to use other types of motors. The motor 38 is mounted on a suitable base 39 in the upper part of the car and is connected or coupled at 40 to the shaft 41 which extends into the gear housing 36 and is provided with a worm'42 which drives a worm gear 43 secured to the shaft 35.

The ektended end of the bar 14 at the edge of the door carries at its upper end a cam M which, when the door completes its closing movement, is adapted to engage a switch arm 44 to close a switch 45 as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. As hereinafter described, it is possible to start the elevator up or down only when the switch 45 is closed. Thecar may also be provided with a cam 46 of any approved construction for cooperation with an interlock which prevents opening of the door at the landing except when the car is m the proper position.

Suitable door limit switches 49, and 51 are provided for opening the circuit through the door operating motor 38 when the door reac-hcsthe end of its opening or closing movement. For actuating these door limit switches, the shaft- 35 is provided with a rearward extension 47 housed \vithina switch box 48. Cams P, S and T are mounted on the shaft extension 47. The switches 49, 50 and 51 are rockably supported on a spindle 52 within the box" 48. Each of these door limit switches is held normally closed by suitable means, such as a spring 53, and each carries a roller 54 adapted to ride on the corresponding cam which opens the switch at the proper time. The switches 49, 50 and 51 are interposed in lines 55, 56 and 57 respectively, which control the energizing of the door operating motor 38 in a manner hereinafter described. The cam P is so positioned as to open the circuit and thereby de-cnergize the motor 38 when the door has completed its opening movement. The cams S and T are arranged at an angle of 180 from the cam P and are adapted to open lines 50 and 51 to de-energize the motor 38 when the door has completed its closing movement.

When the wiring is arranged as shown in the diagrams, Figs. 8 and 9, both the elevator car and the car door are adapted to be operated by alternating current. The main power lines are indicated as L 1L and L. The main elevator motor, indicated at A, has a winding X connected by a line 58 to supply line U, a winding Y connected by line 59 to line 60, and a winding Z connected by a line 61 to a line 62. l Vhen the motor A is to be energized to operate the elevator car in the up d1rect-ion, line 62 is connected througha switch 63 to line L and line is connected through a switch 64 to line L When the motor A is to be energized to operate the car in the down direction, line 62 is connected through a switch 64 to supply line L and line 60 is connected through switch 63 to suppl line 1L A brake magnet B is connecte across the lines 59 and 61 and when the motor A is energized to operate the car in either direction the magnet B is also enen gized to release the brake.

Up direction switches 63 and 64 are connected with-means 65 operable by the energlzing of a coil G to close said switches. The coil G is adapted to be connected through lines 66 and 67 to supply lines L and L respectively for operating the car in the up direction. The down direction switches 63 and 64* areprovided with means 65 for 0105- ingsaid switches whenever the coil H is energized. The coil H is adapted to be connected through lines 66 and 67 for operation coil F to close the switch whenever the coil F is energized. The switch 45 in line 67 is adapted to be closed by the cam M on the car door, only when the door is closed so that it is impossible to close any of the direction switches until the car door is closed.

- Floor selector switches 70 and 7 0 are interposed in the lines in series with the coils E and F respectively and these switches are controlled hy afleor selector .cam N operated by the car. As the car passes downwardly it closes the switch 70 and opens the switch 7 0 and as it passes upwardly it closes the switch 70 and opens the switch 70, so that when the circuit is closed to bring the car to any se' lected floor the circuit will be in the proper,

direction to bring the car to that floor; v

The circuit through the coil D, and either the coil E or the 0011 F, as the case may be,

is adapted to be closed by means of a push button located in the car or on any of the several floors. Suppose for example, theta push button 71 is located in the car and is adapted, when pushed, to complete a circuit.

through coils D and E. This circuit may be traced on Fig. 8 or Fig. 9 from supply line L through switches 71 and 7 O, coils E and D and switch 85 to supply line L. The coil C is also interposed between the switches 71 and in the circuit thus closed, and is adapted to actuate means 72 for closing a switch 73, thus closing the by-pass aroun the push button 71 so that when the push button is released, the circuit through the coils D and E will remain closed.

For the sake of simplicity, only one push button 71 for the car has been illustrated, but it will be understood-that there may be as many push buttons as there are landings, and that each push button may control a circuit individualthereto. Each landing will also be provided with a push button as indicated at 71 which is adapted to control the same circuitthat is controlled through: the button 71 within the car.

. Assuming that the car door is open when the push button is pushed, the closing of the "circuit energizes coil .D which actuates means 74 for closing switches and 76. The motor 38 for operating the elevator door has one winding X connected'by a line 77 to supply line L, a winding Y adapted by the closing of switch 75 to be connected through line 57 and switches 51 and 75 to supply line L, and a winding Z adapted by the closing of switch 76 to be connected through line'56 and switches 50 and 76 to supply line L. Thus, as soon as coil D is energized, the motor 38 is connected for closing the elevator door. The door closing mechanism carries cams S and T which, as soon as the door is closed, engage and open switches 51 and 50 respectively, thus de-energlzing the motor 38. The closing of the door also moves the cam M in a position to close the switch 45. The switch 68 has already been closed by the energizing of the coil E and consequently a circuit 1s established from supply line L through line 66, switch 68, coil G. line 67 and switch 45 to supply line L This energizes coil G and closes up-direction switches 63 and 64. As soon as these up-direction switches are closed, winding Z is connected directly through line 61 and switch 63 to supply line L winding Y is connected directly through line 59 and switch 64 to supply line L and the motor A is energized for moving the car upwardly.

As the car progresses in the up direction, floor selector cam N engages and opens floor selector switch'70,,which opens the relay circuit through the coils C, D and E. The deenergizing of the coil E permits the switch 68 to open and de-energize the coil G, which in turn permits the switches 63 and 64 to open, cutting off the power from the motor A and stopping the car at the selected land- Before the door starts to close, the switch 49 is held open by the cam P, hereinbeforementioned. When the coil D is energized, it opens switch 79, after which, as the door starts to close, the cam P releases the switch 49 and permits-it to close.

The de-energizing of the coil D allows the switch 79 to close and, since-the switch 49 A is already closed, this completes a circuit from supply line L through switch 79, coil K and switch 49 to line L. The coil K, when thus energized, actuates means 80 for'closing the switch 81. Thus winding Z is connected directly through line 82 and switch 81 to supply line L The energizing of coil K also closes a switch 83, thus establishing a direct connection from winding Y through line 84 and switch 83 to supply line L". Thus the motor-38 is'energized to open the car door. The door opens,. therefore, just as soon as the car comes to a stop at the selected landing. As the door reaches open position, the cam P carried by the door ..operating mechanism engages and opens the switch 49 to open the circuit through the coil 'K. This I in the diagram.

It may sometimes happen that, when the button is pushed to close the door and start the elevator, there is some obstruction in the doorway which prevents the door from clos- I and J are provided for the two strips ofmetal in the thermostat. Whenever the butten 71 is pushed to close the circuit through coils C, l) and I thereby causing the switches 75, 76 and 68 to be closed, there is also established a connection from supply' line L through line 66, switch 68 and heater J to supply line L In case either the motor 38 or the motor A b comes stalled, after apredetermined time, say ten seconds, the unequal expansion of the two metals composing the thermostat will open the switch 85 and interrupt the circuit through the coils C, D and E. The tie-energizing of the coil C permits the switch 73 to open. The tie-energizing of the coil 1) permits the switch 79 to close, the same as in the normal operation of the device. The coil K will, therefore, be energized, the switches 81 and 83 will be closed, and the motor 38 will he energized to move the door to fully open position. After the circuit through the motor A has been closed. the tie-energizing of the coil E permits the switch 68 to open; this de-energizes the coil G and permits the switches 63 and 64 to open, thus cutting oil the current through the motor A. All of the circuits will therefore be restored to the normal inactive position shown in the diagram, just as if the normal cycle of operation had been com pleted. In operating the car in a down direction, the heater I has the same eifect as does the heater J when operating in the up direction.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that when the elevator car is in its normal position of rest at a landing, the door 11 is open and the motors A and 38 are both tie-energized. "When a button is pushed to call the car to another landing, the motor 38 is first energized and closes the door. As soon as this movement has been completed the motor 38 is tie-energized and the motor A is energized to move the car to the selected floor. As soon as the car arrives there the current through the motor A is automatically cut off and the motor 88 is energized to open the door. Thus the passengers are fully protected against accident since the car cannot start until the car door is closed.

When the device is installed the slotted connection 21 is first adjusted so that the pi. at 20 is exactly at the center of the door opening. The crank pin 33 is then that the door will complete its ment. These adjustments permit the use of one standard construction for any size or kind of door.

The mechanism for operating the car door has a slow start and stop movement and when the crank pin 33 is properly adjusted,

its movement to opposite extreme positions will move the door to a fullyopcn or fully closed position and this movement will take place noiselessly.

The motor and the wiring system are completely protected against overheating by the thermostatically controlled switch 85.

. l/Vhile the passengers are fully protected against the possibility of getting caught in the door it is possible, in case the power fails, to open the door 11 manually because of the releasable catch 30. In the manual operation of the door after the catch is released, it may be opened with very little effort.

While we have shown and described the door operating mechanism in considerable detail, it is to be understood that the same is capable of considerable modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also possible to arrange the wir ing in a different manner without materially affecting the resulting operation. It is our purpose, therefore, to include such modificationswithin the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat we claim is 1. In a door operating device, the combination of a lever, means for operatively connecting the lever to the door, a pivot normally constituting a fulcrum for the lever, means for normally swinging the lever about said pivot to open or close the door, and means normally holding said pivot stationary, but yieldable, when the door becomes stuck, to permit said pivot to move so that the operating means may complete its cycle of movement.

2. In a door operating device, the combination of a lever, means for connecting one end of the lever to the door, a pivot at the other end of the lever and normally constituting a fulcrum therefor, a pitman having one end pivotally connected to the lever between the ends of saidlever, a shaft having a crank connected to the other end of the pitman, means for driving said shaft, and means normally holding said lever pivot stationary, but yieldable, when the door engaging end of the lever meets with abnormal resistance, to permit said lever pivot to move and the crank to complete its normal move ment.

3. In a door operating device, the combination of a lever, means tor operativcly connecting the lever to the door, a pivot normally constituting a fulcrum for the lever, power means normally operable to swing said lever about its pivot to open or close the door. a mounting for said pivot, and means normally necting the crank to a point on the lever' between the ends thereof, whereby to swing said lever about its pivot, to open or close the door when the shaft is driven, a mounting for said pivot, and means normally holding said mounting stationary, but manually releasable, to permit the door to be opened manually in case the power fails.

5. In a door operating device, the combination of a lever, means for operatively connecting the lever to the door, a pivot normally constituting a fulcrum for the lever, means for normally swinging the lever about said pivot to open or close the door, a support for said pivot, means for adjusting said support bodily in a direction parallel to the movement of the door, and means normally holding said pivot stationary with respect to said support, but yieldable, when the door becomes stuck, to permit said pivot to move so that the operating means may complete its cycle of movement.

6. In a door operating device, the combination of a lever, means for connecting one end of the lever to the door, a pivot at the other end of the lever and normally constituting a fulcrum therefor,; a support for said pivot. means for adjusting said support bodily in a direction parallel to the movement of the door, a pitman having one end pivotallyLconnected to the lever between the ends of said lever, a shaft having a crank connected to the other end of the pitman, means for driving said shaft, and means normally holding said lever pivot stationary with respect to said support, but yieldable, when the door engaging end of the lever meets with abnormal resistance, to permit said lever pivot to move and the crank to complete its normal movement. I

7. In a door operating device, the combination of a lever, means for operatively connecting the lever to the door, a pivot normally constituting a fulcrum for the lever, power means normally operable to swing said lever about its pivot to open or close the door, a sup ort for said pivot, means for ad usting sai support bodily in a direction parallel to the movement of the door, and means normally holding said pivot stationary with respect to said support, but manually releasable, to permit the door to be opened manually in case the power fails.

-8. In a door operating device, the combination of a lever, means for operatively connecting one end of the lever to the door, a pivot at the other end of the lever and normall constituting a fulcrum therefor, a power riven shaft having a craiik, a pitman connecting the crank to a point on the lever between the ends thereof, whereby to swing said lever about its pivot to open or close the door when the shaft is driven, a support for said pivot, means for adjusting said support bodily in a direction parallel to the movement of the door, and means normally holding said pivot stationary with respect to said support, but manually releasable, .to permit the door to be opened manually in case the power fails.

9. In a door operating mechanism, the combination of a lever, means for operatively connecting the lever to the door, a support including a pivot for the lever, mechanism for swinging the lever through a predetermined angle with a slow start and stop movement to open or close the door, and means for adjusting said support bodil in a direction parallel to the movement of t e door so as to center the movement of the door properly with respect to the center of the doorway. 4

10. In a door operating mechanism, the combination of a lever, means for operatively connecting the lever to the door, a support including a pivot for the lever, mechanism for swinging the lever through a predetermined angle with a slow start and stop movement to open or close the door, means for adjusting said mechanism to secure the desired amplitude of movement of said lever, and means for adjusting said support bodily in a direction parallel to the-movement of the door so as to center the movement of the door properly with respect to the center of the doorway.

11. The combination with a doorway and a door therefor, of an arcuate bar mounted above the doorway, an arm pivoted at the center of curvature of said bar, an automatically releasable catch connecting said arm to said bar to hold the arm in substantially vertical position, a lever pivoted at its upper end to said arm, a vertical guide at the edge of the door to which thelower end of the lever is slidably connected, and mechanism connected to an intermediate point on the lever for swinging the same to open or close the door, said catch being held with suflicient force to prevent its release when said mechanism operates normally.

g 12. The combination with a doorway and a door therefor, of an arcuate bar mounted above the doorway, an arm pivoted at the center of curvature of said bar, an automatically releasable catch connecting said arm to said bar to hold the arm in substantially vertical position, a lever pivoted at its upper end to said arm, a vertical guide at the edge of the door to which the lower end of the leveris slidably connected, and mechanism connected to an intermediate point on the lever for swinging the same to open or closethe door, said arcuate bar, arm and catch being adjust able bodily, as a unit, in a direction parallel to the movement of the door so as to center the movement of the door with respect to the center of the doorway, said catch being held with sufiicient force to prevent its release when said mechanism operates normally.

13. The combination with a doorway and a door therefor, of an arcuate bar mounted above the doorway, an arm pivoted at the center of curvature of said bar, an automatically releasable catch connecting said arm to said bar to hold the arm in substantially vertical position, a lever pivoted at its upper end to said arm, a vertical guide at the edge of the door to which the lower end of the lever is slidably connected, and mechanism connected to an intermediate point on the lever for swinging the same" to open or close the door, means for adjusting said mechanism to secure the desired amplitude of movement of .said lever, said arcuate bar, arm and catch being adjustable bodily, as a unit, in a direction parallel to the movement of the door so as to center the movement of the door with respect to the center of the doorway, said catch being held with sufficient force to prevent its release when said mechanism operates normally, but yieldable, when the door engaging end of the lever meets with abnormal resistance, to permit said arm to swing so'that said mechanism may complete its normal movement.

14. In a door operating mechanism, the combination of a lever, means for operatively connecting the lever to the door, a support including a pivot for the lever, mechanism for swinging the lever through a predetermined angle with a slow start and stopmovement to open or close the door, said mechanism including a crank having a longitudinal slot, a pin adjustably secured in said slot, and a link connectin said pin to said lever, whereby the amp itude of movement'of said lever may be adJusted so that a single standard construction may be used for any size of door opening.

15. The combination with an elevator car gate, of a gate operating motor, mechanism driven by said motor and means normally connectin said mechanism to the gate to operate the atter, said means being automat' ically releasable by the applicationof manualeffort to open the gate, in case the motor fails, whereupon the completion of the opening movement of the door may be effected with comparatively little eifort.

16. The combination with an elevator car ate, a gate operating motor, mechanism riven by said motor and means normally connecting said mechanism to the gate to operate the latter, said means including a spring held catch which is automatically releasable to permit the gate to be operated manually pitlh comparative freedom, in case the motor 17. The'combination with an elevator car and a door therefor, of mechanism including an electric-motor for operating-the car, mechanism including an electric motor for opening and closing the door, circuits for conmechanism including an electric motor for opening and closing the door, circuits for controlling said motors, push buttons for inltlatmg a predetermined normal cycle of sequential operation for said motors, and

thermostatic means, operable in case the normal cycle of operation fails of completion, to restore said circuits to inactive condition before'either of said motors can become overheated. i

20. The combination with an elevator car and a door therefor, of mechanism including an electric motor for operating the car, mechanism'including an electric motorvfor openin and closing the door, circuits for controlling said motors, a branch circuit which isp'los'ed whenever the circuit through either one of the motors is closed, an electric heating element in said branch circuit and means operable by said element, after said branch circuit has been closed for a predetermined time, to open all of the circuits which may be closed at that time.- In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names to this specification.

FLOYD F. TURNER. JOHN A. BRUBAKER. 

